Harare Zimbabwe, January 11, 2022 –

A global network of humanitarian agencies has today announced the purchase of an innovative insurance policy in partnership with African Risk Capacity (ARC) and the Government of Zimbabwe. 

The policy is to protect more than 800,000 people in Zimbabwe from drought risk during the 2021/2022 agricultural season.  The $2.5 million USD policy purchased by Start Network and provided by African Risk Capacity, is built on parametric insurance.

This means it pays out before a crisis, according to pre-agreed scientific triggers, based for example on rainfall data. Unlike the standard humanitarian model, in which aid agencies receive funding only after a crisis has hit, the approach enables governments and their partners to plan for and respond before the worst effects of a drought are felt, thereby saving more lives and livelihoods.

Start Network members involved in this initiative in Zimbabwe and the potential implementing partners (in the event a pay-out is made) are; Action Aid Zimbabwe, Action Contre La Faim/Action Against Hunger, CAFOD, Catholic Relief Services, GOAL, Plan International, Tearfund, Trocaire and World Vision Zimbabwe (WVZ). 

Local non-governmental organisations are participating in the planning and will also lead on the response to continue enhancing locally led humanitarian action. These include Zimbabwe Project Trust (ZIMPRO), Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Family AIDS Counselling Trust (FACT) Zimbabwe, Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ), Simukai Children Protection and Caritas Bulawayo/Gokwe/Hwange/Masvingo/Mutare.

All planning will happen alongside the Government of Zimbabwe and UN-WFP, who also signed a policy with African Risk Capacity. If the policies pay out, the Government of Zimbabwe, Start Network members, and other development partners and non-governmental organisations will deliver complementary programmes of support to ensure the widest number of the most at-risk are supported. The Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube, welcomed the support from Start Network.

He highlighted how the Government of Zimbabwe continues to promote a shift from reactive response to a proactive approach to managing disaster risks such as drought. Hon M. Ncube said, 

“Parametric insurance delivers timely financial relief before natural disasters strike. After receiving complementary support from UN-WFP as a replica partner in Pools VI and VII, the partnership with Start Network will make Zimbabwe the first ARC Member Country to have two Replica partners for the current Pool VIII. This demonstrates the trust our partners have in Zimbabwe’s disaster risk management approach with the ARC Group.” 

Speaking on behalf of the African Risk Capacity Group, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Director-General/UN-ASG praised the strong alignment among the partners that made the initiative possible. He said, 

“The human impacts of natural disasters can only be meaningfully mitigated through smart partnerships harnessing the resources of multiple actors for holistic solutions. We salute the strong leadership of the Government of Zimbabwe in the continued show of confidence in the ARC mechanism. Parametric insurance, such as provided by ARC Limited, remains one of the best risk transfer tools because it ensures a quick mobilisation of relief efforts upon the trigger of a disaster event. We are very optimistic that the rest of the continent will embrace the culture of preparedness and early action as we march in solidarity towards a climate resilient Africa.” 

Start Network’s Disaster Risk Finance Coordinator for Zimbabwe/Start Fund Regional Advisor-East and Southern Africa, Nelly Maonde, commenting on the initiative said, 

“It is time more support goes towards proactive and not only reactive models of humanitarian action. We have seen great success following two years of running a similar programme in Senegal and we anticipate the same success for Zimbabwe. For too long we have seen the consequences of waiting for the risk to turn into a crisis first before we act – this only leads to suffering. By proactively managing disaster risks, more lives can be saved, more livelihood assets can be protected, vulnerable groups can be spared from resorting to negative coping strategies undermining their future potential and resilience.” 

World Vision Zimbabwe (WVZ) National Director, Assan Golowa said, “

We are happy to host the network coordination in Zimbabwe. As WVZ, we have responded through Start Network many times including the typhoid response under WASH in Bulawayo, urban cash response in Norton and notably during Cyclone Idai, one of our most unprecedented disasters in Zimbabwe. Many other Start Network members in Zimbabwe have been recipients of Start Network funds for various other emergency responses and anticipatory actions, contributing to saving lives and minimising the suffering of Zimbabweans. We look forward to the continued collaboration among the network members and other disaster risk finance initiatives in Zimbabwe”.

A similar policy was purchased in Senegal for the 2019/2020 growing season and a $10.6 million USD pay-out meant that more than 300,000 people were supported.

The new policy signing in Zimbabwe is part of Start Network’s aim to revolutionise the aid sector by catalysing new ways of preparing for crises and thereby helping to create more resilient communities.  

This initiative is funded by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) Development Bank on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). 

Start Network is comprised of approximately 55 members globally with 20 operating in Zimbabwe. 

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of StartNetwork

First Mutual Life Assurance Company, is inviting suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill two Harare-based vacancies of Client Relationship Consultant that have arisen within the company.

Below is the job advert:

Job Specification

• Coordinating and managing partnerships/bancassurance – developing strong relationships with the requisite partners’ network, identifying the key decision-makers and movers within the organizations help to move marketing campaigns and initiatives forward

• Delivering company’s value propositions and insights to the partnership programme, e.g., market/consumer surveys, behavioural economics support, reinsurance collaboration, product review.

• Leading implementation of new products, product features or enhancements for the partnership programme; tracking performance and KPIs across the programme

• Planning, executing, and managing the partnership/bancassurance programme’s product insurance lifecycle and processes • Conducting client workshops for Administrators

• Resolving general policy queries on a daily basis.

• Analysing, segmenting, targeting, and positioning the clients on an ongoing basis.

• Growing existing business organically through conversion of legacy policies, upgrading policies and following up on existing stop orders to ensure all staff are on scheme.

• Identifying opportunities for potential business growth.

• Providing input for the formulation of the overall First Mutual Life Business CRM strategy.

Person Specification

• Degree in Marketing/ Insurance

• 1-year experience in the insurance industry

• Defensive driving certificate is a must

• Tech-Savvy

• Ability to build and maintain relationships

• Highly innovative

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Team Player

Candidates meeting the above criteria should forward their Curriculum Vitaes (CVs), copies of certificates and application letters to Group Human Resources via the following email address: [email protected] Applications should be sent bynot later than 13 January

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has issued a statement clarifying the reasons behind the postponement of the Mobile Voter Registration process.

The statement is issued after local media reported that the commission apologised for “depriving thousands of prospective first-time voters an opportunity to participate in the upcoming by-elections after it failed to provide adequate and accessible registration centres throughout the country.”

In a statement, ZEC said it communicated these reasons with stakeholders on 24 Nov 2021.

Below is the statement issued by ZEC’s Acting Chief Elections Officer J. P. Chigidji:

Postponement of Mobile Voter Registration After consultations with other critical players in voter registration, the mobile voter registration exercise pencilled for 06 December 2021 has been postponed to February 2022. The need to uphold inclusivity, which is one of the Commission’s core values, has necessitated this postponement.

This deferment is meant to allow all eligible stakeholders to acquire national identity cards, which are requisite for voter registration.

The period initially slated for the voter registration exercise would have excluded some stakeholders without national identity cards.

The postponement will also give Civil Registry enough time to prepare for issuance of identity documents to a large population within a specified period.

By A Correspondent- Armed robbers raided a Mashwede Holdings food court in Southlea Park, Harare early Monday morning and got away with a safe containing over US$5 000 after attacking some security guards manning the premises.

No arrests have been made and police detectives from the CID Homicide are still looking for the suspects.

Although the details were still sketchy, sources close to the investigations said the gang raided the premises at around 1 am before attacking the security guards manning the premises.

They then broke into one of the offices and took away the safe that contained the money before disappearing.

A manhunt has since been launched for the robbers.

Mashwede Holdings was in 2020 raided by robbers who got away with over US$100 000, R42 000, $14 000 worth of fuel coupons, firearms and 20 live rounds of ammunition.

In that incident, Conwell Junior Kasambarare (26), believed to be part of the famous Musa Taj Abdul gang, Spicer Takawira and Musafare Mupamhanga are alleged to be part of the gang that robbed the premises. He was arrested.

Kasambarare who is facing multiple robbery and housebreaking charges failed to turn up in court for his latest remand hearing last Tuesday, prompting the issuance of a warrant of arrest and police have launched a manhunt for him, yet again.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A self-professed hooker has landed herself in hot water after she was arrested following a threesome with two minors aged 15 and 16.

The two juveniles, who cannot be named due to their ages, are alleged to have hired 23-year-old Nothabo Sibanda on 27 December following a night out. After negotiating on a charge for her services, the three went to Nothabo’s house in the Emthunzini suburb.

The three are alleged to have become intimate until the late hours. One of the boys later realised that it was too late for him to return home. At this point, both boys decided to spend the night at the lady of the night’s home.

While the two minors were sleeping at Nothabo’s house, one juvenile’s parents got worried and filed a police report that he was missing.

B-Metro reports that following some investigations, the police learned that the two were last seen in the company of Nothabo. The officers then tracked down the errant pair at Nothabo’s house. Upon being questioned, the teenagers revealed that they had hired Nothabo for her services.

She was arrested and charged with having sexual intercourse with minors. When Nothabo appeared before Western Commonage Court resident magistrate Shepherd Mnjanja, she was not asked to plead. However, she was released on free bail and remanded out of custody to next week on Tuesday for commencement of trial.

Last year, a self-professed hooker from Harare made headlines after she was arrested for bedding a 13-year-old boy.

26-year-old Precious Teya was initially denied bail when she appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vongai Guwuriro facing indecent assault charges. She was directed to apply for bail at the High Court and remanded in custody.

She was later freed on $10,000 bail following a successful bail appeal at the High Court after Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruled that based on the evidence presented, the juvenile was a willing and consenting participant.

The case is still ongoing at the courts.

By -A South Africa-based Tsholotsho businessman, who hosted a party that was dubbed the “R1 million house warming party” in December in his rural home, has lost three brothers in a car accident in the neighbouring country.
The accident is said to have happened in Hammanskraal, northern Gauteng Province when the siblings together with a number of passengers were returning to South Africa from Zimbabwe.
Businessman, Mr Ndumiso Sibanda hosted a two-day classic party in Mathetshaneni Village on December 24 and 25 and over 20 musicians participated. The accident victims were traveling in a white Toyota GD6 vehicle.
Mathetshaneni village head Mr Philemon Ndlovu confirmed the deaths of the three brothers. He said the deaths have plunged his area into the mourning.

“We received news that they died in a car accident in South Africa on Saturday.
We gather the accident happened around 3am and from the little information we are getting, it seems the driver of the car might have slept resulting in the car overturning.
We are yet to be briefed fully on all details.
It is a very sad development in my area as the family had hosted a wonderful event in December which brought the community together,”said Mr Ndlovu.

He said the names of the deceased were Lucky Deep Tshuma, Mbekezeli Sibanda, and Sie Sibanda but was not able to give their ages.
When reached for comment from his base in South Africa, a distressed Mr Sibanda said: “Kunjalo mfowethu, kwenzakale mfowethu (Yes, it true. It happened my brother).”
Efforts to get more details from him were fruitless as he said he was still to come to terms with the development.
Councillor for the area, Clr Manager Sobani said he was yet to get details of the accident as he was attending a funeral in Plumtree.
“I will be back in Tsholotsho tomorrow. I am yet to get details of what transpired but it is an unfortunate development in my ward,” he said.
Mr Sibanda was hailed for supporting artistes at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic had grounded them.

-State media

By- The former Minister of State for National Security Owen Ncube was fired for promoting violence in the period running to the December 28 Zanu PF provincial elections in the Midlands province, the state media has revealed.

Mudha, during that period, is said to have sponsored internal party terror groups that caused havoc in Midlands.

Several party meetings in the Midlands province were aborted after vicious fights caused by the pro-Ncube faction had erupted.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa Monday, fired Ncube for what he only called “conduct that was deemed inappropriate for a Minister of Government”.

But the state media said Mudha was fired for sponsoring violence.

“Although no specific reason was given for the dismissal, there are reports he may have been removed for his role in recent political disturbances in the Midlands Province during Zanu PF’s provincial polls,” the Herald reports.

Political analyst and resource consultant for Chitepo School of Ideology, Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said the dismissal of Cde Ncube was a wakeup call for everyone in position to work in accordance with the mandate of their position.
“Though I am not privy to the reasons behind his dismissal, what I can say is that this is a wakeup call to everyone in positions of authority to work in accordance with the dictates of their jobs.
“President Mnangagwa has made it very clear that his administration will provide servant leadership, working for the people as well as serving in a manner that develops the country and the economy at large.
“The President is hands on and when he makes such a decision he will be fully aware of what is going on and maybe what the person was doing is at variance with what he was appointed for.

“In my view I think this will go a long way in reminding people, whatever positions they occupy that they should always work for the good of the party and Government, the President has shown that he will not hesitate to crack the whip for corrective measures,” said Mr Mureriwa.
Cde Ncube was first appointed to Government as Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in 2017.
The Gokwe Kana, House of Assembly member was re-assigned to head the Ministry of State for National Security in 2018, a position he held until his dismissal yesterday.

By- THe Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed the death of a 75-year-old Zaka man who was fatally assaulted by his nephew early Sunday morning following an altercation over alleged witchcraft.

Hakufiwi Musiiwa was attacked at around 5am, allegedly by Norman Mutakayi (36) who wanted to force his uncle to consult a prophet.
Police said when Musiiwa refused, Mutakayi attacked him by striking his ribs, hands and legs with a wooden log and he sustained serious injuries.

He later died after being forced to walk for about 10km.
Mutakayi has since gone into hiding and police have asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to tell their nearest police station.
Violent deaths have been on the increase countrywide and recently national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged the public to respect the sanctity of human life.
Recently, police in Harare were investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Terence Dondo of St Mary’s Chitungwiza.

Dondo, who was a bar attendant, was 28 years old.
His body was recently found lying lifeless on a gravel road near Huruyadzo Shops, Chitungwiza, with some substances on the mouth and nose.
In a related suspected murder case, police were appealing for information surrounding the death of Mberikwazvo Bopoto (43) of Rockview East, Chitungwiza, who was reported missing on Christmas Day and later found dead the following day near a well along Hunyani River, Manyame Park in Chitungwiza.
The victim was bleeding from the nose and had a bruise on the back of the head.
Police in Norton were also investigating the circumstances surrounding the violent death of a woman whose body was found along the rail line near Family 24, with a deep cut on the head and blood stains all over the body.

-State media

By-Two Chinese nationals and a local man Monday appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on allegations of altering a company’s registration documentation in a bid to elbow out the late firm owner’s wife, who is also a co-director, from its shareholding.

Zhang Suyi (36), Fan Xinhua (57) and Vengesai Mhlanga (45) denied the fraud charges when they appeared before magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko, who remanded them in custody to January 18 for trial.

They are alternatively charged with violating the Companies and other Business Entity Act.

The trio are alleged to have altered Jiang Shan Civil Explosives (Pvt) Limited’s registration documents in a bid to elbow out Zhang Bin from its shareholding.

Zhang Bin co-owned Jiang Shan Civil Explosives (Pvt) with her late husband Dong Liu with 26.55 percent and 73.45 percent shareholding respectively, according to the State.

By-The burial of the founding member of the MDC Jefret Bafana Khumalo has been set for today.

Khumalo, a former war detainee and a former Member of Parliament for MDC in the Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency, died 5 January.

In a statement, MDC Alliance Bulawayo said the party’s founding member will be buried today.

“We mourn the shocking 5 January 2022 passing away of founder MDC member Jefret Bafana. Khumalo – the first MDC Member of Parliament for Bulawayo’s Mpopoma-Pelandaba Constituency in 2000. A former ZAPU member, who suffered incarceration, Khumalo was a successful businessman.
Khumalo played a pivotal role in fighting for the down-trodden Black workers who were victims of poor wages and job reservation for White workers. He fought under the following national trade union centres i.e. SRATUC, NAFU, ZACU,NATUC alongside the likes of John Mthimkhulu, Mkhushi Khumalo, Enos Mdlongwa, Public Nkomo, Raphael Galen, Norman Sibali, Sydney Malunga just to name a few. He was a founder member of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions after the intervention of senior trade unionist Grey Bango in 1981.

He was an active member of the youths of NDP & ZAPU codenamed “Zhanda” & participated in the programmes as assigned by the leadership leading to the recruitment of cadres for military training. He will be buried on Tuesday 11 January 2022. Jefret will be sadly missed!

By-The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has invited observers ahead of the March by-elections which will see 117 local authorities and 28 National Assembly seats up for grabs.

Most of the seats became vacant following recalls of MDC-Alliance members by rival MDC-T following a Supreme Court verdict that Nelson Chamisa illegally assumed the leadership of the opposition party. Polling in other areas has been necessitated by the death of MPs and councillors.

ZEC has since gazetted the election observer fees which will see local observers and local media accredited with Zimbabwe Media Commission paying US$10 or equivalent using the bank rate.

The commission said observers from the African continent will pay US$20 while observers from foreign Embassies in Zimbabwe will pay US$50.

Journalists from international media houses will also pay US$50 accreditation fees while observers from outside Africa will have to part with US$100. Read the statement:

The Zec hereby invites applications from observers and media for accreditation to observe by-elections in respect of 28 National Assembly Constituencies as indicated in Proclamation No.1 of 2022 and 117 Local Authority wards to be held on 26 March 2022. All applicants must be received at ZEC Head Office no later than 22 March 2022. The accreditation of successful applicants shall be conducted between 8AM and 5PM at venues to be advised commencing 18 January 2022.

ZEC said the Nomination Court will sit on January 26, 2022, commencing from 10 AM to 4 PM. 

The Bulawayo Nomination Court will sit at the Bulawayo City Council’s boardroom while in Matabeleland North three venues have been designated; Bubi Rural District Council boardroom, Victoria Falls Council boardroom.

In Matabeleland South, the Nomination Court will sit at Beitbridge Town Council, Gwanda Town Council, Umzingwane RDC and Insiza RDC boardrooms.

More: The Chronicle

By -At least 89 000 Zimbabweans have been arrested and deported from South Africa for illegally staying in that country.

Former ZCTu president Peter Mutasa, said most of the victims either entered or stayed in that country without proper documentation.

He said this development could have been avoided if the region had listened to Zimbabwe labour unions, civic society groups and human rights activists’ warnings about Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis.

Thousands of Zimbabweans flock into neighbouring South Africa and Botswana in search of jobs and better lives.

Mutasa said:
We have been talking about these issues as labour, as human rights activists that SADC and AU have to take a progressive and practical position on Zimbabwe crisis, we have got a crisis. SADC has to resolve this crisis before it degenerates and now it has degenerated. So SADC, South Africa and other Africa countries have to agree that Zimbabwe has got crisis.
This problem has now caused humanitarian crisis it is not enough for South Africans to just push Zimbabweans back where they cannot get livelihoods and to where they can starve, 61 percent in here are food insecure so all those people are looking for food.
Political analyst Wurayayi Zembe says undocumented Zimbabweans flocking into South Africa is confirmation that the Emmerson Mnangagwa government has failed. He said:
That’s a symptom of the failure to govern Zanu PF government in Zimbabwe, it has been failing to provide Zimbabweans with jobs. Jobs are a basic need of Zimbabweans so that they can earn their legitimate lives.
The Zimbabwe government has remained mum over this latest mass exodus of citizens.
More: eNCA

Chingwizi(Mwenezi east) MDCA* *activist laid to rest

7 January 2022

The MDCA led by President Chamisa has been engulfed by a dark cloud down in the remote areas of Mwenezi east.

We lost a brave courageous cadre Fadzai Dhave popularly known as Mai Chikoboda who dedicated her life and time to the struggle. Mai Chikoboda was laid to rest on 5 January 2022.

Despite being staying in the deep end of Mwenezi where ZANU pf brutalises opposing voice, Amai Chikoboda remained resolute a stance which few women can stand.

Mai Chikoboda was Chingwizi Branch Vice Chair lady and despised those who claim that MDCA is nowhere in resettlement areas as she was a pillar of strength there. She was a true activist who attended most party meetings and events.

May Her Soul Rest In Eternal Peace.

Chingwizi people are well known for being neglected by the ZANU pf government since their displacement. It therefore an eye opener to all Resettlement dwellers that ZANU pf has nothing good to offer hence there is need to embrace the spirit of the late Mai Chikoboda.

Timoth Muswere
Mwenezi east

By-Nelson Chamisa the leader of the MDC-Alliance has mourned the passing on of another party’s founder member, Jefret Bafana Khumalo.

Khumalo, a former war detainee, was also a former Member of Parliament for MDC in the Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency.

Below is Chamisa’s MDC Alliance Bulawayo Province’s statement on Khumalo’s death:
We mourn the shocking 5 January 2022 passing away of founder MDC member Jefret Bafana. Khumalo – the first MDC Member of Parliament for Bulawayo’s Mpopoma-Pelandaba Constituency in 2000. A former ZAPU member, who suffered incarceration, Khumalo was a successful businessman.
Khumalo played a pivotal role in fighting for the down-trodden Black workers who were victims of poor wages and job reservation for White workers. He fought under the following national trade union centres i.e. SRATUC, NAFU, ZACU,NATUC alongside the likes of John Mthimkhulu, Mkhushi Khumalo, Enos Mdlongwa, Public Nkomo, Raphael Galen, Norman Sibali, Sydney Malunga just to name a few. He was a founder member of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions after the intervention of senior trade unionist Grey Bango in 1981.

He was an active member of the youths of NDP & ZAPU codenamed “Zhanda” & participated in the programmes as assigned by the leadership leading to the recruitment of cadres for military training. He will be buried on Tuesday 11 January 2022. Jefret will be sadly missed!

ByThe Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Sunday admitted that it had deprived thousands of prospective first-time voters an opportunity to participate in the upcoming by-elections after it failed to provide adequate and accessible registration centres throughout the country.

ZEC has already closed the voters’ roll for the by-elections slated for March 26 this year.

ZEC spokesperson Joyce Kazembe Sunday told NewsDay that the electoral management body had realised that several people failed to register to vote due to the inaccessibility of its 72 district centres.

She said as the country prepared for the 2023 general elections, ZEC would roll out 9 000 biometric voter registration kits to ensure that people travel short distances to registration centres. Kazembe said:

We know that there are some who stay far from the district offices who may not be able to easily access the registration centres, but for now, we are abiding by the law. But we are sorry. We apologise.

However, the registration process is still ongoing for other elections other than the by-elections. We have 9 000 biometric voters’ registration kits that we will roll out throughout the country to ensure complete accessibility of the registration service.

But civic society groups and rights lawyers accused ZEC of deliberately minimising access to the voter registration centres to frustrate potential first-time voters being mobilised by various groups.

Constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku said some provisions of the Electoral Act also deprived a significant number of people of the opportunity to vote; hence the need to amend the legislation. He added:

The Act states that the voters’ roll closes when the local authority vacancy arises, but would the electorate know that very well? In this election, an individual may be able to vote for the National Assembly member, but fail to vote for the councillor. There are some citizens who develop the interest to vote only when there is a proclamation. Every reasonable democracy allows them to vote. There is also a need for training of civic society on the key constitutional dictates of the electoral process so that they provide the necessary essential information to the people.

The electoral management body recently attracted the wrath of the public after it gave two different figures regarding the number of first-time voters it registered last year.

Initially, it said only 2 000 had registered as first-time voters throughout the year, but later revised the figure to 2 951 and both were lower than 9 000 which the Project Vote 263, a local civic group claimed to have assisted to register.

ZEC was also criticised by civic groups after it initially indicated that 22 000 deceased voters would be removed from the voters’ roll, before bumping up the figure to 35 085.

More: NewsDay Zimbabwe

By-A Chitungwiza-based traditional healer, Sekuru Kafura, says he sells goblins to fortune seekers.

Sekuru Kafura told Sunday Mail that prominent people from all over the country visit him seeking goblins.

There is nothing to be ashamed of. I sell goblins to whoever can afford them. I have been doing this since 1972 and this is not a secret.

… When it comes to goblins, we have three packages. We charge US$2 500, US$1 500 and US$500 for the three packages on offer,” he narrated.

He also said that he had sired 100 children and is married to 12 wives, excluding three that died in the past five years.

The 68-year-old is also a successful businessman and farmer.

The Malawi-born traditional healer loves flashy, expensive cars and his garage holds 35 vehicles, among them the latest BMWs, Ford Rangers, Mercedes-Benz and commuter omnibuses.

He said his very large family consumes a beast every week and spends US$826 every week on bread alone.

Unlike the typical traditional healer, Sekuru Kafura, who resides in Unit J, Chitungwiza, is a well-dressed teetotaller who does not take traditional snuff.

He told The Sunday Mail that he is currently training four of his children to become traditional healers after he is gone. He said:

They will only become fully-fledged traditional healers after I am gone. My father taught me this craft and I only started healing people long after my father had died.

I will do the same with my sons; I will not allow a situation in which I will one day compete for clients with my own children.

Sekuru Kafura warned people who are reportedly using his name to defraud his clients. He said:

I am aware of people who are using my good name to rob people. My clients are being robbed in broad daylight.

What I can only say is that those that are doing this must stop or face the consequences.

More: The Sunday Mail

By- Hip-hop veteran Stunner has joined the bandwagon of local artists who support President Emerson Mnangagwa if a video making rounds on social media is anything to go by.

Stunner is seen in a video with three fans endorsing Mnangagwa’s rule whilst showing off Men BelievED designer clothes.

Men BelievED is a movement by men meant to garner support for the Zanu PF leader ahead of the 2023 elections.

The video was received with mixed feelings amongst the artist’s fans with some blasting him for joining Zanu PF whilst others defended his constitutional right to support whoever he wants.

Other artists who have publicly expressed their support for Mnangagwa are DJ Towers and Passion Java Records which houses artists such as Roki, DJ Oskid and others. The two have been embarking on nationwide campaigns for Mnangagwa and donating food.

Late last year, Zanu-PF appointed musician and dancer Sandra Ndebele as its representative for young women in economic development and empowerment in Bulawayo.

After the appointment, Independent Member of Parliament for Norton, Temba Mliswa scoffed at the recruitment as ‘pitiful’adding that it was “a clear scramble for popularity and youth support.” 

Last year, comedienne Mai TT led a women’s delegation that met Mnangagwa at State House under the banner Women for ED [economic development].

Modelling instructor and mental health advocate Sipho Mazibuko also joined the ruling party and is registered under ward four in Bulawayo.

The country which is battling an economic crisis, high unemployment, corruption and lack of investment will hold its harmonised elections in 2023. 

More: The Standard

By- Police in Los Angeles, California, pulled the pilot from a crash-landed Cessna seconds before the aircraft was hit by a train on Sunday, sending debris flying in all directions.

Video footage posted on Twitter by the Los Angeles Police Department showed bodycam footage of officers pulling the bleeding pilot from the plane.
The department applauded its officers, saying in the tweet they had “displayed heroism and quick action by saving the life of a pilot who made an emergency landing on the railroad tracks.” Watch the video for more:
Said Luis Jimenez, the 21-year-old music composer who filmed the video:
The plane had a failed takeoff and landed on the train tracks at a popular intersection. Just seconds before impact police officers saved the pilot, and a piece of debris almost hit me.
The pilot was treated for cuts and bruises and is in a stable condition, according to local media. No one on the train was injured, local media reported.

-Agencies

By A Correspondent- Norton member of parliament Temba Mliswa said the police Boss, Godwin Matanga was the next to be fired after the Monday dismissal of State Security Minister Owen Mudha Ncube.

Mudha, a close President Emmerson Mnangagwa ally, was fired Monday for unspecified reasons.

His dismissal from the cabinet was announced by Misheck Sibanda, the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

In a statement announcing the ouster of Mudha, Sibanda only said the former state security minister had been relieved of his duties for misconduct “inappropriate for a Minister of Government.”

Responding to Mudha’s ouster Mliswa through his tweeter account, said ZRP Commissioner-General is next to be fired.

BEST MOVE EVER!! Sources say this letter was handed to him whilst he was conducting a CIO Director’s meeting this morning. Hamba! I told you we didn’t need this guy, he created too many problems and was a huge liability to not only the Party, but to @edmnangagwa too
One can’t just treat people wrongly with impunity. I don’t usually get such info wrong. People who occupy such positions must be qualified and support the country’s vision; serious people. This isn’t an office to be abused or used to settle personal scores

Our security system was a laughing stock. How does one who hasn’t been in the struggle, has no experience and is uneducated comprehend and formulate security strategies? DG Matanga, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1………
Today I’m popping champagne HAMBA!!!!

Mliswa has for a long time been accusing Ncube and Matanga of using state security departments for their personal gains.

By A Correspondent- Temba Mliswa, the Norton member of parliament (independent), Temba Mliswa has celebrated the sacking of State Security Minister Owen Mudha Ncube.

Mudha, a close President Emmerson Mnangagwa ally, was fired Monday for unspecified reasons.

His dismissal from the cabinet was announced by Misheck Sibanda, the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

In a statement announcing the ouster of Mudha, Sibanda only said the former state security minister had been relieved of his duties for misconduct “inappropriate for a Minister of Government.”

Responding to Mudha’s ouster through his tweeter account Mliswa said Ncube’s downfall was long over-due:

BEST MOVE EVER!! Sources say this letter was handed to him whilst he was conducting a CIO Director’s meeting this morning. Hamba! I told you we didn’t need this guy, he created too many problems and was a huge liability to not only the Party, but to @edmnangagwa too
One can’t just treat people wrongly with impunity. I don’t usually get such info wrong. People who occupy such positions must be qualified and support the country’s vision; serious people. This isn’t an office to be abused or used to settle personal scores

Our security system was a laughing stock. How does one who hasn’t been in the struggle, has no experience and is uneducated comprehend and formulate security strategies? DG Matanga, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1………
Today I’m popping champagne HAMBA!!!!

Mliswa has for a long time been challenging Mnangagwa to fire Mudha for what he called was an abuse of power.

Chingwizi(Mwenezi east) MDCA* *activist laid to rest

7 January 2022

The MDCA led by President Chamisa has been engulfed by a dark cloud down in the remote areas of Mwenezi east.

We lost a brave courageous cadre Fadzai Dhave popularly known as Mai Chikoboda who dedicated her life and time to the struggle. Mai Chikoboda was laid to rest on 5 January 2022.

Despite being staying in the deep end of Mwenezi where ZANU pf brutalises opposing voice, Amai Chikoboda remained resolute a stance which few women can stand.

Mai Chikoboda was Chingwizi Branch Vice Chair lady and despised those who claim that MDCA is nowhere in resettlement areas as she was a pillar of strength there. She was a true activist who attended most party meetings and events.

May Her Soul Rest In Eternal Peace.

Chingwizi people are well known for being neglected by the ZANU pf government since their displacement. It therefore an eye opener to all Resettlement dwellers that ZANU pf has nothing good to offer hence there is need to embrace the spirit of the late Mai Chikoboda.

Timoth Muswere
Mwenezi east

Opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has mourned the death of a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Jefret Bafana Khumalo.

Khumalo, a former war detainee, was also a former Member of Parliament for MDC in the Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency.

Below is the MDC Alliance Bulawayo Province’s statement on Khumalo’s death:

We mourn the shocking 5 January 2022 passing away of founder MDC member Jefret Bafana. Khumalo – the first MDC Member of Parliament for Bulawayo’s Mpopoma-Pelandaba Constituency in 2000. A former ZAPU member, who suffered incarceration, Khumalo was a successful businessman.

Khumalo played a pivotal role in fighting for the down-trodden Black workers who were victims of poor wages and job reservation for White workers. He fought under the following national trade union centres i.e. SRATUC, NAFU, ZACU,NATUC alongside the likes of John Mthimkhulu, Mkhushi Khumalo, Enos Mdlongwa, Public Nkomo, Raphael Galen, Norman Sibali, Sydney Malunga just to name a few. He was a founder member of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions after the intervention of senior trade unionist Grey Bango in 1981.

He was an active member of the youths of NDP & ZAPU codenamed “Zhanda” & participated in the programmes as assigned by the leadership leading to the recruitment of cadres for military training. He will be buried on Tuesday 11 January 2022. Jefret will be sadly missed!

By A Correspondent- Warring Zanu-PF factions have been urged to bury the hatchet and stop dropping names of party bigwigs during campaigns.

The call was made by party secretary for commissariat Mike Bimha in a statement on Saturday where he ordered leaders of teams tasked with supervising the just-ended chaotic provincial elections to hold meetings in their respective provinces to hand over administration of the provinces to the newly-elected leaders, and to superintend over allocation of other positions in provincial executive committees.

“The commissariat department will furnish team leaders with talking points and guidelines on the allocation of other positions of the provincial executive committees,” Bimha said in the statement.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week endorsed the outcome of the provincial elections which were marred by allegations of rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters.

During the Saturday provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Manicaland province, provincial chairperson Mike Madiro blasted party members for name dropping, saying it was an old-fashioned way of contesting elections.

Zanu-PF secretary for external elections Samuel Mumbengegwi was the guest of honour at the meeting.

“I am worried by the amount of indiscipline that we witnessed in the party and we are going to correct that.  I was also not happy with the issue of name dropping in the party.

“Name dropping is old-fashioned. People must attract votes by working hard for the party, not by name dropping,” Madiro said.

Tawanda Mukodza, who was the Manicaland provincial youth chairperson was elevated to deputise Madiro in the province.

Oliver Mandipaka is now the new Manicaland provincial secretary for administration, while Dorothy Mabika is the new political commissar.  Prominent Mutare lawyer Chris Ndlovu is the secretary for legal affairs.  Happiness Nyakuedzwa will lead the provincial women’s league department, while Stanley Sakupwanya is the newly-elected youth chairperson.

During the meeting, all losing candidates cut lonely figures.

These included Makoni district co-ordinating committee chairperson Albert Nyakuedzwa who contested for the provincial chairperson’s position, Danmore Mambondiyani who contested for the provincial youth position and Chido Sanyatwe who lost in the women’s league race.

Mumbengegwi said he was initially hesitant to travel to Mutare as there were sharp divisions in the province.

“I am happy that the province is now organised,” he said.

Party structures in Matabeleland South and North completed the allocation of leadership posts during the weekend.

Newly-elected Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Nqobizitha Mangaliso  Ndhlovu yesterday told NewsDay that his province completed the process on Saturday.

“The Matabeleland South vice-chairperson is Albert Nguluvhe, the MP for Beitbridge East, the secretary for administration is Edgar Moyo, who is also the Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister and Matobo MP, and the finance secretary is Osfael Mazibuko, while the provincial commissar is Washington Nkomo,” Ndhlovu said.

Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Richard Moyo, who retained the chairmanship, said all posts were fairly distributed.

“Silas Maligo from Hwange was elected vice-chairperson, Douglas Khoza from Bubi retained his position as secretary for administration, Stars Mathe from Nkayi retained the treasurer position, Robson Ncube from Lupane retained political commissariat position,” Moyo said.

Other posts went to Land Kabome who is the secretary for security, Patrick Ngwenya from Tsholotsho who is secretary for transport and welfare, Beverly Mthombeni from Umguza was elected provincial spokesperson, while the women’s league boss position was won by Dora Msimanga.

Moyo said candidates who contested for youth league chairmanship did not qualify, hence the posts remained vacant.

Newly-elected Bulawayo chairperson Jabulani Sibanda said he could not immediately comment as he was busy.

Liverpool’s matchday squad for the FA Cup third-round clash with Shrewsbury saw youngsters Melkamu Frauendorf and Isaac Mabaya involved for the first time.

Virgil van Dijk captained the side, with Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher all fit to start, along with Roberto Firmino, Kostas Tsimikas and Takumi Minamino on the bench.

But there are also first-ever starts under Klopp for Max Woltman and Elijah Dixon-Bonner, while there are a host of youngsters among the substitutes.

Joining the ever so slightly more experienced James Norris and James Balagizi are Frauendorf and Mabaya.

Isaac Mabaya, 17, who plays in the right-back, and central midfield positions was an unused substitute as the Reds won 4-1 at Anfield.

Born in Preston with Zimbabwean heritage, Mabaya joined Liverpool’s youth ranks as a six-year-old, and due to injury problems his progress to the fringes of the first team is still in its infancy.

But having stepped up from the U16s to the U18s last season, the 17-year-old has been making his mark under Bridge-Wilkinson this time around.

Though he is a natural midfielder, Mabaya has been used as a right-back on a number of occasions this season, and his ability to drive past players with pace and power has made him a standout.

It is this versatility that has seen Vitor Matos recommend Mabaya to Klopp, with both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Neco Williams ruled out for the FA Cup tie.

Mabaya signed his first professional contract with the club in September and is tipped for big things in the years ahead.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday admitted that it had deprived thousands of prospective first-time voters an opportunity to participate in the upcoming by-elections after it failed to provide adequate and accessible registration centres throughout the country.

Zec has already closed the voters’ roll for the by-elections slated for March 26 this year.

The electoral management body has been in the eye of a storm over the past few weeks after it gave two different figures regarding the number of first-time voters it registered last year.

Initially, it said only 2 000 had registered as first-time voters throughout the year, but later revised the figure to 2 951.

Zec courted the ire of civic groups after it initially indicated that 22 000 deceased voters would be removed from the voters’ roll, before bumping up the figure to 35 085.

Zec spokesperson Joyce Kazembe yesterday told NewsDay that the electoral management body had realised that several people failed to register to vote due to inaccessibility of its 72 district centres.

She said as the country prepared for the 2023 general elections, Zec would roll out 9 000 biometric voter registration kits to ensure that people travel short distances to registration centres.

“We know that there are some who stay far from the district offices who may not be able to easily access the registration centres, but for now, we are abiding by the law. But we are sorry. We apologise.

“However, the registration process is still ongoing for other elections other than the by-elections. We have 9 000 biometric voters’ registration kits that we will roll out throughout the country to ensure complete accessibility of the registration service.”

But civic society groups and rights lawyers accused Zec of deliberately minimising access to the voter registration centres to frustrate potential first-time voters being mobilised by various groups.

Constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku said some provisions of the Electoral Act also deprived a significant number of people of the opportunity to vote; hence the need to amend the legislation.

“Centralisation of the registration centres could have deprived people of their right to vote, but they need to amend the Electoral Act for it to enhance continuous registration processes and afford every citizen the opportunity to vote,” Madhuku said.

“The Act states that the voters’ roll closes when the local authority vacancy arises, but would the electorate know that very well? In this election, an individual may be able to vote for the National Assembly member, but fail to vote for the councillor. There are some citizens who develop the interest to vote only when there is a proclamation. Every reasonable democracy allows them to vote. There is also a need for training of civic society on the key constitutional dictates of the electoral process so that they provide the necessary essential information to the people,” he added.w

Zimbabwe Election Support Network chairperson Andrew Makoni said a number of citizens had failed to register to vote because Zec was not providing adequate information to encourage people to vote.

“Most of the Zec registration centres were closed for the greater part of last year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and citizens failed to register.  Given the low number of new people who are said to have registered to vote last year, it appears as if the voting rights are entitled to those who participated in the 2018 general elections. Of concern is the difficulty in accessing national identity documents which has barred a number of citizens from registering to vote,” Makoni said.

Women’s Academy for Leadership Excellence executive director Stabile Dewa said: “Zec suspended the mobile voter registration blitz that had been slated for December 6, 2021. Many people, especially first-time voters would have gotten an opportunity to register and vote in the upcoming by-elections if it had not suspended the blitz. Considering the current economic challenges, citizens, especially women, have little money to spare for transport costs for them to travel and register to vote.”

Rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama added:  “The right to vote is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution. Zec violated such right and breached the dictates of some international treaties that Zimbabwe is signatory to. That cannot be corrected by a mere apology. There has always been opaqueness on how Zec conducts its elections resulting in lack of transparency, and credibility of its conduct.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- Mutoko villagers are being evicted and relocated by granite rocks mining companies while some villagers are living in homes damaged by blasts and are unable to farm polluted land.

Every day more than 60 trucks take granite for export, along the rough road through Nyamakope village in the district of Mutoko. Quarrying has been happening there since the 1980s.

The shiny Mutoko stone is a popular material for tombstones. An extension to the Danish royal library in Copenhagen, known as the Black Diamond, is clad in Mutoko granite.

Now 50 families in the village have been told by a Chinese mining company that they will have to leave their homes and land. People in four other villages in the district fear they will also lose their ancestral lands.

Two families, including an 82-year-old villager and his wife, have already been relocated by Jinding mining company, which wants to build a polishing plant. One villager told the Guardian:

The 82-year-old man collapsed when he heard the news because he never anticipated it. He was later resuscitated at the hospital. This is how bad things are here.

The man was told his house was within the area licensed to the mining company by the government. Zimbabwe’s Communal Areas Act gives the president power to decide the use of an area that makes up 40% of the country’s land, home to about 70% of the population.

Two other families were given $2 500 (£1 840) to rebuild their homes, but community leaders say this is insufficient.

One villager said:

There is uncertainty around this village. Right now, we do not have anyone willing to help us because our councillor does not want to help us. Anyone who dares to speak out is threatened. Whether they remove us or not, we are already scared to speak out.

The 40-year-old father of four fears losing five hectares of land, his only source of income. He said villagers should have the right to reject the investors from entering our community. 

Richard Ncube, a legal officer at Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), says people in Mutoko were “extremely worried” about evictions.

He said:

The major challenge is they are living in the dark, and they are not sure what is going to happen.

We have gathered that most of the communities [in Mutoko] are afraid to come forward and take these matters to court due to intimidation and fear of being victimised.

Attempts to challenge the mining companies elsewhere in Zimbabwe have had mixed results. Last week, the High Court dismissed a court application by villagers from Chilonga, Chiredzi in Zvishavane who were challenging their impending eviction and Zimbabwe’s Communal Areas Act.-Guardian

By A Correspondent- Victoria Falls residents are counting their losses after flash floods caused by incessant rains that pounded the city since Friday destroyed pre-cast walls, household property, gardens and washed away some roads.

The rains started falling on Friday morning until late afternoon before resuming on Saturday morning until evening.

It was also raining yesterday.

The worst affected areas are ward nine especially around shopping centre and near Vehicle Inspectorate Department Victoria Falls depot, ward 10 behind Mosi-oa-Tunya High School and ward eight around Esikhwahleni area.

The low-density area and central business district where hotels and lodges are were not affected.

While there were no fatalities, some roads especially near Truck Stop and small bridges were damaged.

In some yards, water levels rose to above knee level resulting in pre-cast walls falling especially those without weep holes.

Some water pipes were also left exposed due to massive soil erosion.

Most roads in Mkhosana were impassable as they were flooded resulting in water flowing into yards.

Poor drainage has been blamed for worsening the situation as most parts of the city have no storm drains while the available ones are too shallow to contain massive run-off.

Residents could also be to blame judging by the amount of litter such as plastic bottles, plastic paper and other garbage that was washed down by run-off.

Scores of people lost household property such as beds, stoves, refrigerators and electrical gadgets as well as food which was soaked in water.

Some residents had to drill holes through their house walls to redirect water which had flooded some rooms.

In ward 10 there were more than a dozen houses whose pre-cast concrete walls were destroyed. One of the affected residents, Mr Lizwe Moyo said water had risen close to two metres against the pre-cast wall in his yard before it gave in.

“The challenge in our area is that the drainage is too small and when it rains heavily water flows into yards. Water was almost reaching the top of the pre-cast concrete wall when it fell. My neighbours were also affected and some had to drill through walls of the houses to allow water to drain as it flooded inside,” he said.

Residents have implored authorities to come up with an urgent solution to avoid disaster.

Another resident who preferred to remain anonymous in Mkhosana said all her property was soaked in rain.

“I don’t think I will be left with anything because everything was soaked in water. We spent the whole of Saturday scooping water using buckets but we couldn’t finish it as it kept raining. We wish there could be a solution to this because there could be disaster in future if this poor drainage issue is not addressed,” she said. Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Somveli Dlamini visited the affected areas to assess the extent of disaster.

“The worst affected areas are in wards eight, 10 and 11 where some residents lost pre-cast concrete wall and some roads were washed away. Fortunately, enough service delivery like water provision and electricity were not affected. The council will sit and work out a solution but a long-term solution is construction of storm drain.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has invited observers ahead of the March by-elections which will see 117 local authority and 28 National Assembly seats up for grabs.

Most of the seats became vacant following recalls of MDC-Alliance members following a Supreme Court verdict that Nelson Chamisa illegally assumed the leadership of the opposition party. Polling in other areas has been necessitated by the death of MPs and councillors.

Matabeleland region has 20 vacant local authority vacant seats and four National Assembly seats.

Bulawayo has nine vacant council seats, Matabeleland North, five and Matabeleland South has six vacancies.

Bulawayo’s seats fell vacant following the recall of eight councillors and the death of Ronnah Mudara all from the MDC-T party while in Matabeleland North two councillors were recalled in Victoria Falls and three Zanu-PF councillors died.

In Matabeleland South, the MDC-T recalled three councillors while three Zanu-PF councillors died.

In terms of Parliament, Bulawayo has two National Assembly vacant seats after Advocate Kucaca Phulu, who was the National Assembly member for Nkulumane Constituency and Ms Sichelesile Mahlangu who represented Pumula Constituency were recalled.

Matabeleland North also has two vacant seats, Binga North and Tsholotsho South. Tsholotsho South constituency fell vacant following the death of Zanu-PF’s legislator Cde Zenzo Sibanda, who succumbed to Covid-19 in August, while Binga North became vacant after MDC’s Prince Dubeko Sibanda was recalled by his party early last year.

There are no vacant Parliamentary seats in Matabeleland South.

President Mnangagwa last Thursday proclaimed March 26 as the day for holding by-elections to fill vacant Parliament and council seats.

Zec has since gazetted the election observer fees which will see local observers and local media accredited with Zimbabwe Media Commission paying US$10 or equivalent using the bank rate.

It said observers from the African continent will pay US$20 while observers from foreign Embassies in Zimbabwe will pay US$50.

Journalists from international media houses will also pay US$50 accreditation fees while observers from outside Africa will have to part with US$100.

“The Zec hereby invites applications from observers and media for accreditation to observe by-elections in respect of 28 National Assembly Constituencies as indicated in Proclamation No.1 of 2022 and 117 Local Authority wards to be held on 26 March 2022. All applicants must be received at Zec Head Office no later than 22 March 2022. The accreditation of successful applicants shall be conducted between 8AM and 5PM at venues to be advised commencing 18 January 2022,” read the statement.

Zec said the Nomination Court will sit on January 26.

“Now therefore, the Commission hereby notifies the public of the vacancies that have risen as specified in the first, second and third schedule. The public is further notified that: councillors for the vacant wards shall sit on Wednesday 26 January 2022 commencing from 10AM to 4PM. The nomination courts shall sit at places designated in the Fourth Schedule for the purposes of receiving nomination candidates for election as councillors for the wards in the stated local authorities and shall be presided over by the nomination officers stated therein,” reads the statement.

The Bulawayo Nomination Court will sit at the Bulawayo City Council’s boardroom while in Matabeleland North three venues have been designated; Bubi Rural District Council boardroom, Victoria Falls Council boardroom.

In Matabeleland South, the Nomination Court will sit at Beitbridge Town Council, Gwanda Town Council, Umzingwane RDC and Insiza RDC boardrooms.

Most political parties have said they are ready for the coming election.
Analysts have said the elections will be a precursor of the watershed harmonised elections set for next year.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Violence dominated the new Zanu-PF provincial joint council of the main wing, women’s and youth leagues’ inaugural meeting held in Chinhoyi Saturday.

The meeting was meant to officially hand over the reins of power to newly-elected chairpersons of the three-party organs voted during recent shambolic elections characterised by rigging allegations.

Mashonaland West Provincial Minister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka won the chairmanship ahead of Information Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza, former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West youth league leader Vengai Musengi and ex-Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive Happison Muchechetere.

In the women’s league polls, Constance Shamu came out victorious, while Tapiwa Masenda clinched the chairperson post of the youth league.

However, an ill-fated Indaba held at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) gym hall started off later than scheduled, before violence broke out just as proceedings were about to start.

This was after Mliswa-Chikoka had instructed party security and police officers to allow only listed “winners” from the recent elections and bar the rest of party members.

Timothy Masviba from Chegutu district, who later on had his car tyres deflated by opponents, sparked the chaos insisting all participants of the polls, losers included, were eligible to attend the meeting.

Haggling and mudslinging ensued for close to 20 minutes as security details struggled to fend off resistance from Masviba and hordes of other members who wanted to bulldoze into the venue.

Guest-of-honour at the function, Ambassador Zenzo Nsimbi, who was standing in for Politburo secretary for security Lovemore Matuke, watched helplessly from the top table as the melee ensued.

A visibly agitated Mliswa-Chikoka had to personally intervene to cool down tempers after it became apparent the meeting would not proceed and ordered police to close the door.

The meeting went ahead amid numerous complaints about the list of winners, the highlight being an objection by Agriculture Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos questioning the ‘ghost’ identity of one Jessie Banda, who was listed as having won in Muzvezve constituency.

Haritatos said: “With all due respect, on the list of winners that you have just read out, there is a character called Jessie Banda who is said to have won in Muzvezve. We don’t know a person called Jessie Banda and where they come from. We recently convened a meeting of chairpersons from Muzvezve and no one said they knew this Jessie Banda, we are baffled where that name came from, it needs to be replaced by someone identifiable we know won in the elections,” he said.

The chaos continued during the allocation of other posts that constitute the provincial executive membership, with Mliswa-Chikoka taking the flak for trying to impose her preferred candidates.

One Tsitsi of Kadoma district, who had been elected as the women’s league commissar, had her joy cut short after Rosemary Goteka was unilaterally thrust into the position as Mliswa-Chikoka flexed her muscle altering the line-up.

Tsitsi did not take it lightly causing a scene as she remonstrated against her shunting to a less influential post of information secretary.

The chaotic meeting ended late at night way after some members from far away districts had left.

The appointees to the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West main board are; Tavengwa Mukhuhlani (vice-chairperson), Misheck Nyarubero (administration secretary), Gilbert Chibayamagora (finance), John Yotam (commissariat), Alexio Mutyambizi (security), Vangelis Haritatos (transport), Godknows Murambiwa (information), among others.

The PCC, which will transform into an elections directorate, is reportedly set to meet soon to endorse or nullify the appointments as well as deliberate on complaints from the just-ended provincial polls, particularly from Chakari and Makonde districts.

By A Correspondent- MDC founder member and former MP for Mpopoma/Pelandaba, Jefret Bafana Khumalo, died Wednesday last week at his Riverside home in Bulawayo following a short illness.

He was 83.

The MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza confirmed Khumalo’s death in an interview.

He said:

I confirm the death of one of our longest-serving elders in the party, Jefret Khumalo. His death was just sudden. As a party, we would like to convey our condolences to his family. If all things were equal, Khumalo was supposed to be declared a national hero because he fought for the liberation of this country.

The late Khumalo will be buried Tuesday in Bulawayo.

He worked in the furniture-making industry where he was involved in trade unionism before joining politics.

During the liberation war, Khumalo and other youths used to supply freedom fighters with clothes and shoes which led to his imprisonment in 1973.

He was detained at Whawha Detention Camp in Gweru with his friends, Norma Zikhali, Sidney Malunga, and others. On his release from prison, Khumalo went to England to join his wife.

When he returned to Zimbabwe in 1981, he joined ZAPU and worked closely with the late Vice President John Nkomo, and Malunga.

Khumalo worked as a district education officer for Tsholotsho during the 1980s before joining the government as a labour officer at Mhlahlandlela government offices in Bulawayo.

He later left the government and joined Radar Metal as a labour officer. He joined the MDC when it was formed in 1999. In 2000, he was elected the party’s Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency MP.

By A Correspondent- John Mupanduki, the Bikita West MDC Alliance youth member who was abducted, tortured and dumped in Mashava, has made double police reports.

Unknown assailants around 2 AM allegedly abducted Mupanduki at Nyika Growth point on Friday.

According to the MDC Alliance, his abductors were driving an unmarked car.

The opposition party Sunday posted on its Tweeter handle saying that Mupanduki was severely tortured and disoriented.

“Bikita West youth, John Mupanduki, was abducted at around 0200hrs at Nyika Growth point on Friday. The perpetrators used an unmarked car.
He was found yesterday badly tortured & disoriented. We call for an end to abductions of opposition members, torture & political violence.

“Mupanduki made an official report at Bikita Police Station Law and Order after an initial report at Nyika Base. He was abducted in the early hours of Friday & dumped in Mashava. He was tortured by suspected state agents & remains in a state of shock,” posted the MDC-Alliance.

By-Harare City Council has destroyed “illegal structures” in Mbare, targeting the Mupedzanhamo Market zone and illegal tuckshops around the bus terminus.

The authority said it wanted to bring sanity to the area.

They also said they wanted to give Mbare a facelift, with the market stalls at Mbare Musika and renovate other structures such as the suburb’s colonial-era flats.

Harare Provincial Development Co-ordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti has previously indicated that the Government intends to transform Mbare by unlocking value at the marketplace which is the country’s largest market, particularly for agricultural produce.
When contacted on his mobile phone last night, Mr Muguti said he was not in a position to comment.
Harare City Council spokesperson Innocent Ruwende referred questions to acting Harare Mayor Councillor Stewart Mutizwa whose mobile phone was not reachable.

When The Sunday Mail visited Mbare yesterday afternoon, a council bulldozer could be seen razing down illegal structures such as clothing tables, backyard food outlets and illegal tuckshops.
People that delayed or failed to remove their structures were left counting losses.
Many push carts were seen ferrying some of the wares that were being removed by traders.
Other people were hurriedly removing some valuables such as metal sheets.
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts president Mr Shalvar Chikomba said restoring sanity to Mbare was long overdue.
He said space barons are mostly to blame for the rot in Mbare.
“There is a lot of money being made in Mbare, but it is falling into the wrong hands. The traders whose markets have been destroyed are not always the ones to blame because they buy the space from space barons who pocket the money without remitting a cent to Council or Government to refurbish the area.
here are also some greedy merchants who manipulate processes so as to buy produce from farmers for a song. Council and Government need to get to the bottom of all this if they are to restore order in Mbare because space barons will continue to illegally sell space to desperate vendors.”

Traders whose wares and stalls were razed down cried foul about how the demolitions were done saying they did not have alternative places to carry out their businesses.
Mr Motion Mabubu, a vendor outside Mupedzanhamo, said: “They should open a new place for us because this place was our source of income. At least if they had told us in advance that they were going to come and demolish our tables we would have removed them nicely ourselves because they are expensive for us to erect,” he said.
Another vendor, Mr Ronald Chita, said they had no option but to rebuild their illegal structures at the same place.
“All we want is a place where we can do our business because that is where we get money for our upkeep. Schools will be opened soon and our children want school fees so the money comes from here. We have no option but to start re-erecting our tables here because we have nowhere else to go,” he said.
Another vendor who declined to be named said: “If we could have Mupedzanhamo reopened that would be better because all we want is a place to do our business. We do not want to be chased by the police or to bribe them, all we want is a safe place to do our work.”

-State media

By-MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa will preside over a “crucial” meeting today to deliberate on a possible new name for the party ahead of the March 26 by-elections and the 2023 national polls.

The urgent meeting follows claims by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora that he also owns the MDC-Alliance name and could use both of them as and when he feels.

MDC Alliance presidential spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda confirmed today’s meeting to The Standard.

“The party will hold a crucial meeting to resolve that issue. You may ask our national party spokesperson Fadzai Mahere for further clarification because I only speak on behalf of the president. She will also make an official announcement after the meeting,” Sibanda said.

Mahere said the party would, at the “appropriate” time, set its position to the people.

“The party is ready for the by-elections, but there is need to implement electoral reforms, which are not negotiable — to solve the governance crisis in Zimbabwe,” Mahere said.

“We need to align our electoral laws to the Constitution and there is need for full disbandment of the partisan and militarised Zimbabwe Electoral Commission secretariat.”

Chamisa’s party lost the MDC headquarters, Morgan Tsvangirai House, and the funds that it is supposed to get through the Political Parties Finances Act to the Mwonzora faction, which claimed to be the legitimate MDC and the courts ruled in its favour.

Mwonzora’s party also recalled MPs affiliated to the MDC Alliance, and has since replaced about 15 proportional representation seats with its MPs.

About 133 Parliamentary seats and council wards are now vacant after the recalls of MDC Alliance MPs. Other vacancies were caused by the deaths of MPs and appointment of others to Ambassadorial posts.

The MDC-T has since threatened to use the MDC Alliance name in the forthcoming elections, a situation which has now forced the MDC Alliance to think about changing its identity.

MDC Alliance deputy national spokesperson Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda said the party was ready to take part in any “credible, legal, free and fair elections”.

“By-elections were stage-managed by Mwonzora, a surrogate of Zanu PF. It is going to be a humiliation to Mwonzora and his henchman,” Sibanda said.

Mwonzora’s MDC-T also said it was ready to participate in the by-elections and reiterated they would use any of the MDC names that may come up.

Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba said the names MDC- T and MDC Alliance were both theirs to use as electoral vehicles for different times depending with the situation on the ground.

“So we are going to use any of the names and no one outside of our party is allowed to use any of the above,” he said.

“Our claim to the MDC Alliance name is not to spite anyone, but is embedded in the history of the MDC name, of which the resolution was made on July 27 2017 and the signing of the pact on August 5 2017 in Zimbabwe Grounds.”

Coalition for Democrats (CODE) leader, Trust Chikohora who lost the 2018 Presidential elections said his party would not contest the by-elections as they were a waste of time and resources.

Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa said “the democratic ethos” of his party would lose no time to prepare for the by-elections as well as the 2023 polls.

“Zanu PF has just finished its own internal provincial elections. To underscore the serious commitment, the party even held them during seasonal holidays on the annual calendar. The cadre ship and membership enthusiastically responded even as the other population partook in festivities,” Mutsvangwa said.

-The Standard

By- Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, said that there were no diplomatic tensions between Zimbabwe and South Africa over immigrants.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail’s Harmony Agere, Hamadziripi urged Zimbabwean nationals living in South Africa to respect the neighbouring country’s immigration laws.

This comes after South Africa’s government announced its decision to discontinue the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), special permits that were granted to about 200 000 Zimbabweans and were renewed after every four years. Said Hamadziripi:

I am not aware of any diplomatic tensions between Zimbabwe and South Africa over immigrants.

Concerning the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit, the Government of Zimbabwe has noted and acknowledged the sovereign decision taken by the South African government on that matter.

It has encouraged the concerned Zimbabweans to comply with that decision.

Both Zimbabwe and South Africa seek to ensure regular and orderly migration between and into their territories, hence the clampdown on irregular migration at Beitbridge.

Hamadziripi also confirmed that South Africa has extended ZEP by another 12 months. He said:

Yes, the validity of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit has been extended to December 31, 2022.

Refer to the Minister’s (SA Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi) immigration directive.

South Africa recently launched a blitz against illegal immigrants including Zimbabweans with hundreds deported in the past few days.

More: The Sunday Mail

By-A Chitungwiza-based traditional healer, Sekuru Kafura, says he has sired 100 children and is married to 12 wives, excluding three that died in the past five years.

The 68-year-old is a self-confessed seller of goblins, and a successful businessman and farmer.

The Malawi-born traditional healer loves flashy, expensive cars and his garage holds 35 vehicles, among them the latest BMWs, Ford Rangers, Mercedes-Benz and commuter omnibuses.

He said his very large family consumes a beast every week and spends US$826 every week on bread alone. He said:

There is nothing to be ashamed of. I sell goblins to whoever can afford them. I have been doing this since 1972 and this is not a secret.

… When it comes to goblins, we have three packages. We charge US$2 500, US$1 500 and US$500 for the three packages on offer.

Unlike the typical traditional healer, Sekuru Kafura, who resides in Unit J, Chitungwiza, is a well-dressed teetotaller who does not take traditional snuff.

He told The Sunday Mail that he is currently training four of his children to become traditional healers after he is gone. He said:

They will only become fully-fledged traditional healers after I am gone. My father taught me this craft and I only started healing people long after my father had died.

I will do the same with my sons; I will not allow a situation in which I will one day compete for clients with my own children.

Sekuru Kafura warned people who are reportedly using his name to defraud his clients. He said:

I am aware of people who are using my good name to rob people. My clients are being robbed in broad daylight.

What I can only say is that those that are doing this must stop or face the consequences.

More: The Sunday Mail

By A Correspondent- Abducted Bikita West MDC Alliance youth member John Mupanduki has been found severely tortured and dumped in Mashava.

Unknown assailants around 2 AM allegedly abducted Mupanduki at Nyika Growth point on Friday.

According to the MDC Alliance, his abductors were driving an unmarked car.

The opposition party Sunday posted on its Tweeter handle saying that Mupanduki was severely tortured and disoriented.

“Bikita West youth, John Mupanduki, was abducted at around 0200hrs at Nyika Growth point on Friday. The perpetrators used an unmarked car.
He was found yesterday badly tortured & disoriented. We call for an end to abductions of opposition members, torture & political violence.
In an update on Sunday afternoon, the MDC Alliance said Mupanduki had made an official report at Bikita Police Station Law and Order after an initial report at Nyika Base,” said MDC- Alliance.

John Mupanduki has since has made an official report to Bikita Police Station Law and Order after an initial report at Nyika Base.

“He was abducted in the early hours of Friday & dumped in Mashava. He was tortured by suspected state agents & remains in a state of shock,” posted the MDC-Alliance.

Tinashe Sambiri|Makomborero Haruzivishe is a lion of the people’s struggle, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

On Sunday morning President Chamisa commended Zimbabweans for supporting Mako emotionally and physically during his time of incarceration.

Mako spent 10 months in prison for challenging Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dictatorship.

President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page:
“THE LION IS OUT & ROARING…I’m excited.

We have Our God who answers prayers. Thank you Lord! You always take care of your own.

You have your own ways. And you never disappoint! Thank you Zimbabwe for your prayers and support. Happy Sunday. #Godisinit.”

President Chamisa added:
“HAPPY AGAIN! Mako is back! A New Great Zimbabwe loading.”

Britain is offering Visas for farm jobs including drivers, fruit pickers, General Farm Workers, Vegetable Farm Workers, Meat Packers, Farm Labour Supervisor, Greenhouse Supervisor, Dairy Farm Worker and many more, announced senior journo Hopewell Chin’ono.

• General Farm Workers

• Live Stock Farm Workers

• Vegetable Farm Workers

• Meat Packers

• Farm Labour Supervisor

• Greenhouse Supervisor

• Dairy Farm Worker

• Flower Farm Hand

• Hog Farm Laborers

• Farm Equipment Service Technicians

• Milkers

• Field Workers

• Poultry Technicians

• Truck Drivers

• Production Technicians

• Fruit packers

• Aquaculture Technicians

• Farm Assistants

• Maintenance Mechanics

• Farm Manager

• Farm Machinery Operators

• Vineyard Workers

• Farm worker, mushrooms

• Live Poultry Handlers

• Forklift Operators

• Sale Associates

• Regenerative Farm Workers

• Carpentry

• Production Supervisors

Job requirements

Languages:

English Or French

Education:

No degree, certificate or diploma

Experience:

Will train